Use Forwards and Backwards to Identify Positions on a Grid

In this activity, we will use the mathematical vocabulary of 'forwards' and 'backwards' to describe position, direction, and movement. 

Let's have a look at what this means. 

Here we have a car. 

The car is in square 7D.

It moves forwards five spaces. 

What square will it be in?

First of all, we need to look at the direction the car is facing as that will determine which direction is forwards. 

The front of the car faces the letters A to F, so the car will travel in this direction. 

We just need to count forwards five spaces from here:

This is how the car will move. 

To read the square that the car is now in, we follow each box along to the number and letter, like this: 

The car is now in box 2D. 

Let's have a look at another one. 

Here, we have a rocket. 

The rocket is in square 3E, it moves backwards two spaces. 

What square will it be in?

First of all, we need to look at the direction the rocket is facing as that will determine which direction is forwards and which is backwards. 

The front of the rocket faces the top, so the rocket will travel in the opposite direction to this, so that it is going backwards. 

We just need to count backwards two spaces from here:

This is how the rocket will move. 

To read the square that the rocket is now in, we follow each box along to the number and letter, like this: 

The rocket will now be in square 3C.

Ok, shall we have a go at some questions now?